Prof. Özlem Sönmez, MD

Prof. Özlem Sönmez, MD is an Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology specialist who practices at Acibadem Maslak Hospital and Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul. She graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1995 and began her career at the Turkish Kidney Foundation Ahmet Ermiş Dialysis Center, where she was the physician responsible for hemodialysis from 1996 to 2003. She then trained in Internal Medicine at Haseki Training and Research Hospital, qualifying as an Internal Medicine specialist in 2008, and completed her Medical Oncology subspecialty training at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Hospital in 2011. In 2010 she attended the European School of Oncology(ESO) Masterclass in Oncology.

From 2011 to 2013, Dr. Sönmez worked as an Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology specialist at Ministry of Health Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital. She then joined the Department of Internal Medicine Division of Medical Oncology Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine, where she became an Associate Professor in 2016. In 2022 she was appointed Professor at Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Faculty of Medicine. She is a member of the European Society Of Medical Oncology (ESMO), the American Society Of Medical Oncolog (ASCO) and the Turkish Medical Association Istanbul Medical Chamber. Her published work includes multicenter studies on cutaneous malignant melanoma in Turkey, second-line chemotherapy in advanced pancreatic cancer, prognostic factors in breast carcinoma, and the management of febrile neutropenia in hospitalized patients with solid tumors. She has more than 31 years in medicine.

Clinical focus

Dr. Sönmez’s clinical work centers on the medical oncology assessment and treatment planning of solid tumors. Within the gastrointestinal group, she sees patients with stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer, including colon cancer and rectal cancer. She also evaluates patients with thoracic cancers, including lung cancer.

Her other areas of expertise include breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer, as well as cellular therapies. Her combined background in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology supports the coordinated evaluation of cancer-related health needs, with treatment options discussed in the context of each patient’s diagnosis, general condition and previous care.

How Dr. Sönmez works with international patients

Dr. Sönmez consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their case or review findings remotely.